Water wheel pump



Nov. 16, 1954 J. R. MILLER WATER WHEEL PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1951 f k 4 7 M M y 6 0 U R S e m M J .l m Fwwmu 8 in flllmlwll L INVENTOR.

BY am 5 J Atlormjs NOV. 16, 1954 2,694,366

WATER WHEEL PUMP Filed March 16, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 6

James Roy Mil/er IN VEN TOR.

United States PatentO WATER WHEEL PUMP Application March 16, 1951, Serial No. 215,880 4 Claims. (Cl. 10361) This invention relates to an improved aquatic device which is adapted to take water from a flowing stream and lift it for subsequent distribution to be used in irrigation, the motive force for lifting the water being derived from the flowing stream.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved water wheel as a component part of the aquatic device, the'water wheel being buoyant and adapted to be used in many environments, for example as the impeller of a boat. 1

-Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device adapted to be operated by water power, which device may not only be used for lifting water for subsequent distribution in irrigation purposes, but also which may be employed to generate power such as electricity.

Ancillary objects and features of importance will become apparent in following the description of the illustrated form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the device, parts being broken away in section to illustrate internal detail, the device being shown in place in its proper disposition with respect to a flowing stream of water;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of a part of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved water wheel;

Figure 4 is a transverse view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3 and in the direction of the arrows showing in section the construction of the water wheel;

Figure 5 is a side view of one of the buckets used on the endless conveyor of the device, this view being taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 6;

5 Figlre 6 is a side view taken on the line 66 of Figure Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a boat showing the improved water wheel used as a part of the means of operating the boat.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a frame 10 with a support 12 for the frame, holding it in proper disposition with respect to a stream of flowing water. The support 12 includes a vertical standard 14 provided with a plurality of apertures 16 spaced with respect to each other and adapted to accommodate a pin 18. The pin is passed through a collar 20 which has a boom 22 pivoted thereto, whereby the pivoted end of the boom may be raised and lowered by removal of the pin 18 and insertion in any one of the selected apertures 16, the pin, of course, being passed through suitable aligned openings in the collar 20.

An upper collar 24 is fastened to the upper end of the standard 14 and it supports a pulley 26 around which a cable 28 is entrained, the lower end of the cable being connected with a standard winch 30 of the ratchet locking type. The opposite end of the cable 28 is fastened to the pulley 26 after being entrained around an idler pulley 32 which is secured to the boom 22 by means of a bracket 34. Accordingly, upon operation of the winch 30, the cable 28 is selectively paid out or wound in which oivotally operates the boom 22 in order to raise or lower the chains 36 and 38 which are connected by mounting brackets 40 and 42 to the boom 22. The lower end of the chains 36 and 38 are secured to the center part of the yoke 44, this yoke constituting a part of the frame 10.

The yoke has sides 46 and 48 to which rods 50 and 52 are attached in such a manner as to be capable of vertical 2,694,366 Patented I N 0v. 1 6, 1 954 .2 i adjustment with respect to the yoke-44. The rods 50 and 52 are bolted as at 54to the sides 46 and 48, the bolts being passed through pairs of aligned openings, there being a plurality of openings in the sides 46 and 48 and also in the rods 50 and 52 to permit the rods to be held in a selected position.

The upper part of the frame 10 is provided with an upper shaft 56 having a power take-off element, as the pulley 58 at one end thereof. At the lower ends of the rods 50 and 52, there are: bearings 60 and 62 which mount a lower shaft 64 for rotation. An endless conveyor 66 is located in the frame 10, there being means for mounting the conveyor on the shafts 56 and .64, this means being supported by the shafts. On the upper shaft 56 there is a drum 68 constituting a part of this means, the drum being provided with axially extending teeth 69 on the periphery thereof, these teeth being'adapted to be contacted by cross members 70 of the endless conveyor 66; The conveyor proper consists of apair of chains 74 and 76 held in spaced relationship by the cross members 70, some of which have vertical end portions 78 and 80 (Figures 5 and 6) which are welded or otherwise fastened to the sides of buckets 82. Each bucket is provided with a pair of sides, a pair of end panels and a bottom, the top of the bucket being open. The purpose of the buckets is to'receive water from the flowing stream and deliver it into a receptacle 86 which is carried by a suspension bracket 88, the upper ends of the extension bracket being fastened to a part of the yoke 44 near the shaft 56 and arranged in such a position that, as the endless conveyor operates and the buckets are returned downwardly toward the stream, the buckets empty into the receptacle 86. There is an outlet member 90 near the bottom of the receptacle and a hose 92 connected to the outlet member in order to deliver liquid from the receptacle which has been emptied therein to a location remote from the stream, this liquid being used principally for irrigation purposes.

In order that the endless conveyor be operative, there is an improved water wheel 96, the water wheel including a buoyant, closed almost cylindrical body 98 through which the shaft 64 extends axially thereof being passed through bearings 100 and 102 provided in the end panels of the closed body 98. There is a reduced center cylindrical section 104 of the generally cylindrical body, this section being provided with a plurality of axially extending teeth 106 similar in construction and function to the teeth 69. Vanes or paddles 108 are attached to the end parts of the closed body 98, the lower ones of which are adapted to be inserted in the stream for purpose of deriving force from the moving water of the stream to operate the water wheel 96. This, in turn, operates the endless conveyor mounted on the drum 68 which is fixed to the shaft 56. Accordingly, the liquid which is lifted in the buckets is deposited in the receptacle 86 for subsequent distribution by the hose 92.

Attention is now invited to Fi ure 7 where there is a fragmentary part of a boat 112 illustrated, this boat being equipped with a drive shaft 114 adapted to be actuated by any standard engine or motor. A pinion 116 is disposed on the outer end of the drive shaft and is immeshed with a ring gear 118 which is fastened to the center portion 120 of the water wheel 122. The water wheel 122 is quite similar to the water wheel 96, the difference being the substitution of the gear 118 for the teeth 106. A suitable mounting bracket 124 is attached to the boat in order to support the shaft which mounts the water wheel for rotation Having described the invention, what is claimed as new 1. A water elevating device comprising a frame, parallel shafts journaled in the upper and lower ends of the frame, a hollow, buoyant substantially cylindrical drum mounted on the lower shaft, said drum having a reduced center section and radially extending paddles at opposite sides of said center section, an endless conveyor entrained over said upper shaft and the reduced center section of said drum, buckets carried by said conveyor for elevating water from a stream as the stream current turns the drum, a receptacle carried by the frame adiacent its upper end for receiving water elevated from the stream.

2. A water elevating device comprising an inverted yoke having a web and downwardly edto be suspended over astream, adjustable extension legs secured to said yoke legs, a shaft connected at its ends to the free ends of said extension legs, a buoyant, hollowdrum extending between; the; free ends of said. extensionlegs: and rotatably journaled: on said shaft to support the lower end of thedevice: in at strearn, said drum havinga reduced centen section; and azpair ofi water wheels on each side oi said center section,. and. conveyor means driven by said water wheels and operatively connected thereto for, elevating wat r a second shaft connected to sggif yoke, saidconveyor, being entrainedover said' second 5 t.

3. A water elevating device; comprising, an inverted yoke having a. web, and downwardly extending legs adapted to besuspended over. av stream, adjustable extension legs secured to. said; yoke 1egs,,a shaft connected at its ends to the. free, ends. of said extension legs, a bouyant, hollow drum: extending; between the free ends of said extension legs and rotatably journaled on said shaft to support, the: lowen end of, thedevice, in a stream, said drum having; a reduced center section and a pair of. water wheels oneach side of said center section, and conveyor means driven by said water wheels and operatively connected thereto for elevating; water, a. second shaft. journaled between said yokelegs, said conveyor means including a bucket. carrying; endless conveyor entrained over the reduced center section of-said drum and said second shaft and receptacle: means. for collectingwater. elevated by: said conveyor.

extending legs adaptyokehaving aweb- 4. A water elevating device comprising an inverted anddownwardly extending legs adapted to be suspended over a stream, adjustable extension legs secured to said yoke legs, a shaft connected at its ends to the free ends of said extension legs, a buoyant, hollow drum extending between the free ends of said extension legs and rotatably journaled on said shaft to support the lower end of the device in a stream, said drum having a reduced center section andv a pair of water wheels on each side of said center section, and conveyor means: driven. by said: water wheels and. operatively con.- nected thereto for elevating water,.a second shaftzjournaled between said yoke legs, said conveyor means including a bucket. carrying endless conveyor entrained over the reduced center sectionv of said drum and said second shaft and receptable means for collecting water elevated by said conveyor, said receptacle means including a pair of arms having one set of ends secured to said yoke and a receptacle. secured. to the: free ends-of said; arms.

References Cited in thefile of. this patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS Number. Name Date 331,694 Erskine Dec. 1, 18.85 472,602 Claypool Apr.-. 12, 1892, 646,338 Winter et al Mar. 27,1900: 885,931 Lambert Apr. 28,. 1908 9731,0044 Crago Oct. 18, 1910 1,263,865 Dale. Apr...23.. 19.18: 

